After new contract, ‘Conan’ will continue on a nightly basis, expand into podcasts

If you’re a fan of Conan O’Brien on TBS, start spreading the news. If you don’t like Conan, that sucks for you because the late night show host has signed a contract extension with TBS that extends his contract another four years through 2022.

The terms of the new contract aren’t all public, but The Hollywood Reporterhas reported the deal is official, along with a couple other interesting specifics. Conan’s hit show Conan will continue with he extension, and it also helps him “expand into digital, podcasting, mobile gaming and more via his Conaco banner.”

TBS announced the deal on Wednesday as a contract extension for O’Brien while also extending the talk show through 2022. As of now, TBS says Conan will continue to be a nightly series starring Conan.

“Conan continues to prove his vibrancy night after night and his incredible command of the digital and social space has only built on his young, connected audience,” Kevin Reilly, president of TNT and TBS, said. “This next chapter will provide support for Conan and Jeff [Ross, Conan EP] to expand the boundaries from a ‘talk show’ to a range of personality-based, cross-platform experiences.”

The Conaco production company was also extended under the terms of the deal. The company produces Conan, TBS’ People of Earth, and the upcoming animated show Final Space.

O’Brien joked about his new deal while also expressing gratitude to TBS for extending his contract.

“The TV landscape has changed dramatically since I inherited the traditional talk show format in 1993. In the past few years I’ve stumbled across many new and exciting ways of connecting with my audience, and I’m eager to evolve my show into something leaner, more agile and more unpredictable. I also want a pony,” O’Brien said.

The above quote also hints at how in the past Conan has begun to think of new ways to expand his brand and TBS’ late night comedy. This is something THR reported they talked with Reilly about back in January.

“Television is going to continue to be a huge part of his presence, but you can also anticipate a series of announcements between now and the upfronts [in May] that will shed even more light on what we’re talking about,” Reilly said at the time. “It’s is a distinct possibility that the show may evolve, but that’s going to come from Conan as more of these things take shape. Between now and May, quite a few of them will be taking shape.”

Since the news emerged, Conan tweeted about the deal with a dose of humor.

"Leonard has been medically cleared to return from the right quad tendinopathy injury, but since shutting down a nine-game return to the San Antonio Spurs that ended Jan. 13, he has elected against returning to the active roster."

"Leonard has been medically cleared to return from the right quad tendinopathy injury, but since shutting down a nine-game return to the San Antonio Spurs that ended Jan. 13, he has elected against returning to the active roster."